Treatment Information

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Brain – Glioblastoma Multiforme treatment details. Biologic therapy.

MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.

Survival: monthsCountry:United States
Toxiciy Grade:5City/State/Province:Houston, TX
Treatments:Biologic therapyHospital:MD Anderson Cancer Center
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Jul 2010

Description:

Patients:
This phase II study involved 48 patients with first-relapse glioblastoma. The median age of the patients was 51 years (range 37-73). Gender distribution was not reported.

Treatment:
Patients in this study were treated with a biologic therapy called erlotinib (trade name Tarceva; made by Genentech, Inc.). Erlotinib is a small molecular inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase, which is involved in cell growth and survival.

Toxicities:
One death related to treatment (due to sepsis) was reported in this study. Also, grade 3 or 4 diarrhea or rash was experienced by 4% and 18.8% of the patients, respectively.

Results:
Median overall survival in this study was 9.7 months.

Support:
This study was partially funded by Genentech, Inc., the makers of erlotinib.

Correspondence: Dr. W. K. Alfred Yung; email: [email protected]



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